Nicole and Papa’s new eco car: Renault launches its the first full hybrid Clio

Nicole and Dad would be so happy.

Because with a touch of old-school entente cordiality, Renault’s new Clio E-Tech full hybrid was launched to the world simultaneously in five major European centers, including London, Paris, Germany, Italy and Spain.

It brought back fond memories of the father and daughter duo – knowing Dad and the bubbly Nicole – whose exploits in British-only advertisements where only their names were ever mentioned – a generation of original early Clio buyers in Britain Britain enchanted from the 1990s until they commanded us ‘au revoir’ in 1998.

Indeed, over four generations since its launch in 1990, some 16 million Clios have been sold worldwide to date, including over 1.1 million in the UK – and I was an early adopter of a punchy hot hatch version with 16 valves.

This new fifth-generation Clio marks a mid-cycle facelift to showcase Renault’s new styling and emblem design.

And, says the French automaker undergoing a radical reinvention it calls the “New Wave,” it’s groovy.

On sale from the end of May with first deliveries in the UK in September, prices start from under £22,000, which will make entry-level models cheaper than the current Clio hybrid it replaces, although it’s a similar size.

The new full hybrid will be the only option for UK customers.

Riding on wheels up to 17 inches and powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor, the 145 horsepower combination is expected to propel the new Clio from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds and to a top speed of 180 km/h.

But CO2 emissions will be just 93 g/km.

It’s big on eco-friendly fabrics and trim, too, and will be leather-free in the passenger compartment, promising to be cozier and more welcoming.

The seats in the upper upholstery feature a seat cover that consists of 64 percent recycled polyethylene.

The new Clio E-Tech full hybrid bears the new retro Renault logo and is only the second car, after the Austral, to offer the new sporty, high-tech yet elegant Esprit Alpine trim.

This, along with the Techno trim, features an aerodynamic wing below the grille directly inspired by the world of motorsport.

As Renault enthuses: ‘The front of the Clio E-Tech full hybrid has been completely redesigned: its sculpted, tighter and groover contours add a modern feel and verve.

“The enlarged checkered grille adds strength and a sporty feel.”

It is the first vehicle in Renault’s New Wave transformation to feature the latest signature front lighting.

It also celebrates a livelier and apparently larger derriere: “The rear bumper has also had a makeover: the aerodynamic air intakes visually enlarge the rear, add grip on the ground and enhance the car’s engineering prowess.”

The bottom of the first two trim levels is matt black, the techno version is gloss black and the esprit Alpine version is matt shadow gray.

The new hybrid hatchback is available in seven exterior colours, including Fire Red, Valencia Orange, Diamond Black and Glacier White.

Depending on the trim level, the new dashboard includes a borderless digital display with a diagonal of 7 to 10 inches. It comes with a multimedia system, built-in navigation and Wi-Fi mirroring of smartphones.

There are 15 driver assistance systems – for driving, parking and safety.

Safety technologies included as standard in the Esprit Alpine trim level include adaptive cruise control with speed limiter, blind sport alert, 9.3-inch touchscreen with navigation and Wi-Fi smartphone integration, in addition to a 10-inch driver display.

That top trim also features a heated steering wheel with French red, white and blue double stitching, while the dashboard features an embroidered French flag.

Other features include automatic air conditioning, a hands-free card key and a wireless smartphone charger.

Renault said: ‘The 145PS E-Tech full hybrid, which the UK has chosen as the single powertrain of choice, is at the forefront of hybrid technology.

‘It brings the pleasure of electric driving in cities within everyone’s reach and at the same time reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.’

It added: ‘The car is invariably powered by the electric motor when starting and can use the electric motor up to 80 per cent of the time in cities, reducing fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent compared to a conventional petrol engine.

“That’s in addition to the silence you enjoy in electric cars and the fact that you don’t have to stop to charge the battery.”